Christ Church, Pittsford reaches out through Hungary connection

Many parishioners have expressed concern about the refugee and migrant crisis in Europe this summer. Although there were suggestions to sponsor a refugee family, the pipeline to get to the US is very slow and few are being admitted. The situation in Europe changes daily. Governments are all reacting differently but the people are still pouring into and across Europe in desperate situations.

We wanted to find a way to provide immediate on-site aid and to have a relationship with the aid organization. We have found St. Margaret’s Anglican/Episcopal Church, Budapest, Hungary. This small parish has prepared packets of food, water, hygiene supplies and blankets for families arriving in Budapest. One member who owns orchards donated 400 kilos of apples to the effort. The congregation is working with other larger relief groups in Budapest to serve the immediate needs of the refugees as they arrive at the large train stations in Budapest.

Father Frank Hegedus, the Anglican Chaplain at St. Margaret’s, has a connection to Pittsford and Rochester. He studied for his D. Min. at Colgate Rochester Crozier Divinity School and as a Roman Catholic priest at the time assisted and lived at St. Louis Church. Dr. Hegedus has fond memories of Pittsford. This connection seems to make his church’s outreach works the right place to support.